ASN’s Brian Sciaretta has been protecting the U.S. U-20 World Cup staff all cycle and he breaks down the World Cup roster which was introduced at the moment.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
September 19, 2025
12:00 PM
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ON FRIDAY, UNITED STATES U-20 head coach Marko Mitrovic named his roster for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup which will get underway September twenty seventh in Chile. The roster accommodates few surprises and Mitrovic was in a position to preserve his core collectively by means of your entire cycle.
The U.S. U-20 staff will open group play on September twenty ninth towards New Caledonia earlier than dealing with France on October 2nd and African U-20 champions South Africa on October fifth.
Right here is the roster together with some ideas:
FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP ROSTER BY POSITION
(CLUB/COUNTRY; U-20 CAPS/GOALS; HOMETOWN)
GOALKEEPERS (3): 12-Adam Beaudry (Colorado Rapids; Citadel Pines, Colo.; 7/0), 21-Duran Ferree (San Diego FC; San Diego, Calif.; 1/0), 1-Diego Kochen (FC Barcelona/ESP; Miramar, Fla.; 5/0)
DEFENDERS (7): 2-Reed Baker-Whiting (Seattle Sounders; Seattle, Wash.; 7/0), 18- Luca Bombino (San Diego FC; Saugus, Calif.; 9/0), 5-Noah Cobb (Colorado Rapids;0 Chattanooga, Tenn.; 13/0), 16-Ethan Kohler (SC Verl/GER; Campbell, Calif.; 12/1), 3- Nolan Norris (FC Dallas; Fort Price, Texas; 16/0), 17-Francis Westfield (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.; 7/0), 4-Joshua Wynder (Benfica/POR; Louisville, Ky.; 11/1)
MIDFIELDERS (6): 19-Matthew Corcoran (Nashville SC; Dallas, Texas; 5/1), 8- Benjamin Cremaschi (Parma/ITA; Key Biscayne, Fla.; 9/2), 14-Taha Habroune (Columbus Crew; Columbus, Ohio; 14/2), 6-Brooklyn Raines (Houston Dynamo; Chicago, In poor health.; 15/1), 15-Pedro Soma (San Diego FC; Coconut Creek, Fla.; 15/2), 10-Niko Tsakiris (San Jose Earthquakes; Saratoga, Calif.; 23/8)
FORWARDS (5): 11-Luke Brennan (Atlanta United; Atlanta, Ga.; 10/2), 7-Cole Campbell (Borussia Dortmund/GER; Peachtree Metropolis, Ga.; 3/0), 20-Zavier Gozo (Actual Salt Lake Metropolis; Eagle Mountain, Utah; 11/2), 13-Peyton Miller (New England Revolution; Unionville, Conn.; 6/1), 9-Marcos Zambrano (Actual Salt Lake; Gladwyne, Pa.; 13/6)
Sturdy roster
One of many challenges with constructing a U-20 roster is getting gamers launched by their golf equipment. Underneath the foundations, golf equipment should voluntarily launch gamers for youth World Cups and this may be very tough. As this age, prime U-20 gamers start taking up greater obligations with their golf equipment and letting gamers go is a sacrifice.
However this event is even tougher as a result of it takes place throughout each the start of the European season and the tip of the MLS season the place groups are in a playoff push.
Regardless of that, Mitrovic was in a position to safe nearly his whole core.
MLS groups proved to be extraordinarily cooperative. For instance, Actual Salt Lake is on bubble for the playoffs and is in a good race. However they agreed to launch one in every of their most in-form gamers in Zavier Gozo.
Equally, Houston can be solely two factors out of the postseason however agreed to launch Brooklyn Raines, who has been a daily starter for the Dynamo since April.
However MLS groups who’re safely within the playoffs however are actually pushing for seeding additionally cooperated. Frankie Westfield joined from Philadelphia the place he has been on tempo for a 2000+ minute season. Luca Bombino is a starter for San Diego, who’re within the combine for the highest seed, and he was allowed to go. Taha Habroune was additionally launched regardless of seeing his minutes at Columbus enhance because the summer time.
In Europe, Mitrovic additionally had a variety of success in getting his prime gamers. Cole Campbell isn’t a daily but with Borussia Dortmund however he made his season debut final weekend and is usually at all times on the first-team bench.
Benja Cremaschi additionally made the roster and this was maybe essentially the most stunning roster inclusion. Cremaschi solely joined his new membership, Parma in Italy’s Serie A, on mortgage from Inter Miami simply earlier than the shut of the switch window. Regardless of that, Cremaschi has been given clearance to play on this event.
This was a staff that performed nicely all through the U-20 cycle and Mitrovic was in a position to safe nearly each participant he wished. It was a superb effort by him, glorious cooperation with all MLS golf equipment in addition to most European groups.
Notable omissions
Whereas the roster is powerful, there are some absences value discussing.
Noahkai Banks: The Augsburg central defender was known as as much as the USMNT camp in September and whereas he didn’t play, it was a telling signal that he was shifting past the U-20 staff. He even informed the media that it was unlikely he was going to play on the U-20 World Cup as a result of Augsburg wished him for Bundesliga video games. He’s one of many prime American gamers of his age group, U.S. Soccer charges him as such, however his omission from this staff was anticipated.
Matai Akinmboni: The Bournemouth central defender has been injured. He was known as as much as the U.S. U-20 camp earlier this month to evaluate the place he was in his restoration. At that time he hadn’t performed in 4 months. Finally it was determined by each U.S. Soccer and Bournemouth that he was not prepared for the World Cup.
Julian Eyestone and Gavin Beavers: Two of the higher goalkeepers have been left off this roster however they possible would have been backups to Diego Kochen. As a substitute, Eyestone will stay at Brentford and Beavers might be at Brondby.
Sergio Oregel: The Chicago Hearth midfielder sees common minutes together with his membership staff, which is in the midst of a good playoff push. It’s not clear if this was Mitrovic’s determination to go away him off or if Chicago elected to maintain him for the remaining video games.
Workforce’s strengths/weaknesses
Each U-20 staff is totally different by way of strengths and weaknesses and right here is how this staff likes to play.
Attacking from vast positions: This U.S. U-20 staff is powerful at each fullback positions and each wing positions. Cole Campbell is likely one of the quickest, if not the quickest, participant at this U-20 World Cup. He ought to be very tough to defend on this stage. On the alternative wing, you’ve Luke Brennan who developed with Campbell throughout their early teenage years with Atlanta United. Brennan has been good for this staff through the cycle.
At fullbacks, Frankie Westfield has been one of many prime U-20 gamers in MLS this season and Luca Bombino hasn’t been far off. On prime of that, there’s Peyton Miller who’s enjoying up this cycle and brings each velocity and the flexibility to play left again or left wing.
The velocity and attacking potential this staff has out vast could be very spectacular.
Central protection: This U.S. staff has been excellent in central protection all cycle however must play with out two of its prime choices in Banks and Akinmboni. Mitrovic appears nicely ready for this as different choices akin to Noah Cobb and Ethan Kohler have been at most camps this cycle.
The No. 9: When Mitrovic was the Olympic coach, he introduced just one middle ahead in Duncan McGuire after which needed to play with a “false nine” when McGuire wasn’t there. Within the final U-20 cycle, then head coach Mikey Varas additionally solely introduced one middle ahead (Darren Yapi) and needed to play with out a middle ahead more often than not. It’s the identical factor right here. There may be simply as soon as middle ahead in Marcos Zambrano. After him, the staff has to play with out a large bodily presence up prime.
